A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed

HOW ODD THAT MASSACRES MOSTLY HAPPEN IN "GUN-FREE ZONES"! When will the brain-dead Left wake up and draw the obvious conclusion? Gun bans kill kids

Friday, October 31, 2008

Florida man fights off gun-toting robber: "A man confronted by an armed thief while working at his family's auto repair shop said he took matters into his own hands when the barrel of a gun was shoved into his chest. Instead of handing over his cash, Doug Walker said he looked the thief in the eyes and said no. He said he was working at his family's shop on Lenox Avenue when a man came up and asked him the price of an oil change, but something didn't feel right. He said he sensed something wasn't right, and that's when he said he saw another man. The second man was wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun. "He was about 10 feet away from me to start off with, had the gun pointed toward me. I walked up to him and stood feet shoulder width apart, and he had the gun out and put it to the middle of my chest," Walker said. "I said, 'You want my money?' He nodded yes. I told him no." That's when Walker said he just reacted and used a technique he teaches in his church's self-defense class. "I grabbed this way, stepped back to the right, grabbed the barrel in between here. He shot once, and then I just kept holding onto it, and he punched me in the side of the head," Walker said. While struggling, a bullet grazed his finger. He said he was fortunate only one shot was fired before the gun jammed. Realizing his gun was not working, the gunman took off. Walker said he was never really afraid but just worried about his niece who also works at the shop."

SAF Founder Says His Book's Message Affirmed by New Data on Self-Defense: "Newly-reported data showing a rise in justifiable homicides reflects a renewed philosophy of self-reliance that was examined in the book America Fights Back: Armed Self-Defense in a Violent Age, co-authored by Second Amendment Foundation founder Alan Gottlieb late last year. Gottlieb and co-author Dave Workman, senior editor of Gun Week, took a hard look at self-defense in their book, which has stayed at or near the top of Amazon.com's "Gun Control" category for the past 11 months. The 2007 data, released by the FBI, shows 254 self-defense justifiable homicides by private citizens, the most reported for a single year since 1997. There were also 391 killings by police last year, the FBI reported. "Interestingly," Gottlieb observed, "USA Today noted that Florida State University criminologist Gary Kleck thinks the FBI is under-estimating the number of self-defense homicides by private citizens, maybe by as much as two-thirds. "American citizens have realized that they are on the front lines of the war on crime, and the police cannot be everywhere, all the time".

PA: Philly gun-law case appealed to high court: "Two City Council members appealed to the state Supreme Court yesterday in their case against the state legislature to allow Philadelphia to pass and enforce its own gun laws.Darrell L. Clarke and Donna Reed Miller asked the court to reconsider its landmark 1996 ruling, which appeared to leave local municipalities no leeway to regulate guns. Only the state had that power, the court ruled then. Council passed seven gun-control laws last year that included regulations to limit handgun purchases to one per month and to require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms. Recognizing the state's traditional control over gun laws, Council's bills required approval by the legislature before they could take effect."

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Kansas Liquor Store Clerk Holds Shoplifter at Gunpoint: "A store clerk is earning praise from some in the community for holding a would-be shoplifter at gunpoint until police arrived. CJ said she became suspicious when two men in their 20's came into the store shortly before 7p.m. Tuesday, and headed straight for a corner of the store and talked about not having much money. "They realized I was watching them the entire time they were in here," said CJ, who did not want to give her last name. "They went and picked up a half gallon of Kentucky Deluxe." CJ said the two brought the bottle up to the counter and she rang it up. One of the men took off his shoe, looking for money. "His buddy was standing by him and grabbed the bottle and bolted out the door," CJ said. CJ said she had another customer in line lock the door. She grabbed the phone and her gun and called police. CJ said the man seemed surprised when she held him at gunpoint. "He looked dumbfounded. I don't think he realized I would be carrying a gun." CJ said the two men had a vehicle on the west side of the store, which is where the first ran after taking the bottle. She said the man she held inside the store was cooperative with police. "One got away; I wasn't gonna let the other get away. He went to jail instead."

Teen shot while stealing McCain signs: "A teenager was shot when he tried to steal a man's John McCain yard sign. Kyree Flowers, 17, was wounded in the arm when Ohio resident Kenneth Rowles, 50, defended his property with a .22-caliber rifle Saturday, the Associated Press reported. Warren Township police Lt. Don Bishop said the man only intended to fire warning shots, not hurt two teenagers who were attempting to steal his yard sign. But he managed to hit their van, and Flowers was taken to a local hospital to treat his arm wound. Now Rowles has pleaded guilty to felonious assault, and his hearing is scheduled for Election Day. The boys admitted to stealing yard signs supporting the Republican candidate on numerous occasions, but no charges have been filed against them."

Israel: Alleged burglar shot, killed by homeowner: "The Ramle Magistrates Court has released a man who shot and killed an intruder prior to his breaking into the man's home early Tuesday morning. According to reports, the homeowner had shot at a group of men outside his home and hit one of them, who died a few hours later in the hospital. The incident began around 4:00 A.M. when a resident of a Shfela area community was awoken by voices near his home. When he stepped out of the house to investigate, he found a group of men who the police suspect were attempting to break into his home. The man said he feared for his life and that of his family, and shot at the suspected burglars with his pistol. One intruder was wounded and the rest fled. Within minutes, police arrived along with a Magen David Adom ambulance, which evacuated the wounded man to Assaf Harofe Hospital where he died from his wounds. He was a 24-year-old West Bank resident with no valid permit to be in Israel and a criminal record. The homeowner was brought to the Lod police station where he told investigators he acted in self defense. He was later released after posting a NIS 20,000 bond and ordered not to leave the country for 60 days."

S. Illinois officer shoots deer in self defense: "Herrin Police Officer Brad Smith thought he was responding to a rather mild incident Friday afternoon - a wounded deer. As it turns out, he's lucky he had a gun nearby. The deer, a 9-point buck, was trapped inside a fenced-in area just north of the guard shack at the former Maytag plant on the east end of town. As Smith approached, the deer charged, forcing him to shoot and kill the animal to protect both himself and others nearby. "I think it got scared and came running right at me. I really had no choice," Smith said. "It probably wasn't going to live anyway. I could see it had two broken lower jaws."

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I got this video off a Leftist site, where much horror was expressed, rather than her skill being admired. "All men are equal" does not extend to girls, apparently. Sexism?

Ohio Pet Shop Owner Shoots, Kills Robbery Suspect: "Cleveland Police believe a shop owner who shot a robbery suspect Monday acted in self-defense. Police were called to the Cleveland Aviary on Bosworth Avenue in Cleveland Monday afternoon. According to Lt. Thomas Stacho, the suspect was dead on the front step of the pet shop when the first officers arrived. According to police, the 86-year-old shop owner, whose name police did not release, was in the back room of the shop when the robber entered. Police said there was one clerk working in the front of the shop. "The robber set upon him, immediately put a knife to his throat and ordered him to open the cash register," Stacho said. Police said the shop owner came out the back room with a gun and asked the robber to leave. "He ordered the robber to leave; the robber did not; he approached him in a menacing manner and the second man fired one round striking the man in the chest killing him," Stacho said."

TX: Resident shoots masked intruder : "An Arlington homeowner shot and killed an intruder Monday night. Police say two men, masked and armed, forced their way into a house on the 900 block of Carthage . but only one would survive. According to reports, the shooting happened after the pair entered the home about 10:35 p.m. One of the suspects stuck a resident with a gun before the pair forced their way in.Two shots, fired by the suspects, alerted another person, who was upstairs at the time, to the situation. That person jumped into action, grabbed a gun and began to fire - ultimately hitting and killing one of the suspects."

Guns, ammo sales increase as election nears : "Besides self-protection, gun experts and gun users at the Gun Store say they are also concerned about what the next President may do about gun control. `Some people are coming in due to the election coming up - kind of to hedge their bets, or get what they want before it may be banned,' says Randy. `The concern is that the price of guns and ammo are going to skyrocket with any kind of ban in the future.' Predicting a crime is impossible, and whether or not stricter gun regulations are on the way is still unknown. But Jeffrey says for now, he plans to continue to exercise his right to keep and bear arms."

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Another "gun-free zone"?: "Two people have died and a third has been wounded in a shooting at an Arkansas university. One victim died at the scene of the attack, which took place late on Sunday evening at the campus of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, near Little Rock. The second died in hospital, said UCA police spokeswoman Lt Rhonda Swindle. The condition of the third victim is unknown. All the victims were male, said Lt Swindle. She said she had no information about the suspects, although the university police website claimed that one person was in custody and three others were being sought."

Seattle man innocent in Halloween party killing: "A Snohomish County jury has acquitted a Central Washington University student accused of killing another man during a scuffle outside a Mill Creek Halloween party. Jurors sided Monday with Bryce Dawson Fortier, finding the 23-year-old acted in self-defense when he fatally shot Christopher Chandler, 18, last year. Fortier, a Roosevelt High School graduate, faced conviction of second-degree murder or, alternatively, first-degree manslaughter in the shooting. Prosecutors had claimed that Chandler was shot when he tried to break up a fight in which Fortier was engaged. Police said in court documents that Chandler attempted to rush Fortier when he saw that the man was armed. Forensic evidence, Mazzone said, told a different story. Mazzone said he believes the jury was swayed by ballistic evidence that showed Chandler was attacking Fortier when Fortier fired his pistol. Fortier took the stand in his own defense, offering testimony that was corroborated by the evidence. Fortier was initially jailed following the shooting."

OH: Man shot while breaking in to car : "A man attempting to break into a car Sunday morning was shot and killed. Scioto County Sheriff Marty Donini says his office is investigating the shooting death of Timothy L. Reese. He was a 21 years and from South Webster. The shooting happened around 4:00 Sunday morning outside a home near the Scioto-Jackson County line. Sheriff Donini says Reese was shot after a confrontation with a resident who had caught him attempting to break into a car. According to the police report, a confrontation took place and the resident fired a gun at Reese. Deputies say they believe this was a case of self-defense."

Obama: Arrest Guns, Not Criminals!: "Obama has a long history of supporting city gun bans. The Associated Press described his vote on a gun-control bill in 2004: "He also opposed letting people use a self-defense argument if charged with violating local handgun bans by using weapons in their homes. The bill was a reaction to a Chicago-area man who, after shooting an intruder, was charged with a handgun violation." No major-party presidential nominee has ever had as strong and consistent an anti-gun record as Obama. Here is a politician who supported a ban on handguns in 1996, backed a ban on the sale of all semiautomatic guns in 1998 (which would encompass most guns sold in the country), and advocated banning gun sales within five miles of a school or park in 2004 (a virtual ban on all gun stores). He also served on the board of the Joyce Foundation, the largest private funder of anti-gun research in the country.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Texas pawn shop clerk shoots, kills would-be robber: "A pawn shop clerk shot and fatally injured an armed man allegedly attempting to rob the northwest Harris County business Saturday evening, authorities said. The gunman entered Gulf Coast Pawn and Jewelry store in the 9400 block of Louetta Road and attempted to rob the business at 5:56 p.m. when he was shot by one of the store clerks, authorities said. He was taken to Willowbrook Methodist Hospital where he later died, authorities said."

Wacky Canadians. Can you imagine gang-bangers taking up photography instead of crime?: ""Toronto police launched an innovative gun amnesty program on Wednesday. It's dubbed Pixels for Pistols, and through it, police are offering to give out a Nikon digital camera to anyone turning in a firearm.A handgun or assault rifle is worth a $400 Nikon Coolpix S52 and a shotgun nets a $250 Nikon Coolpix P60. The deal includes free photography lessons.The amnesty program will run for four weeks, according to Henry's camera store, which is providing the cameras."

TX: Man evicted for shooting thief: "Rather than watching strangers steal and destroy his possessions, the man ran outside and fired his shotgun five or six times . He is not facing charges. .To his dismay, the apartment served his family an eviction notice. `We had three days to leave,' he said. The man said he is unable to find another home in three days, much less afford an unexpected move. His apartment lease included a clause stating residents are not allowed to own or discharge guns on the premises - but he claims the rule is unfair. `You're victimized,' he said, `[A]nd then on top of that, you're being kicked out on the street for protecting something that you have the right to protect.'"

Illegal harassment of Ohioans who open carry: "Here's where I promised to introduce a solution to this week's discussion. You'll recall we were exploring how those who openly carry holstered handguns--a perfectly legal practice in Ohio, and recognized by the courts--have been subjected to harassment and arrest. We even showed the state attorney general is aware this if going on, and the office has acknowledged the legality of the practice in its official publications. Yet Ohioans are still in danger, all for peaceably exercising their right to bear arms--and we've seen they are indeed peaceable. We've seen how some among us, who do not trust their fellow citizens and want to coerce the practice away, are not above endangering gun owners, and exploiting the system to do it. And we've also seen how those initiating the confrontations and arrests are not necessarily the "'Only Ones" we can trust to carry guns."

Sunday, October 26, 2008

NY: Young black killed trying to rob off-duty officer: "Fifteen-year-old Kelvin Rodolph picked the wrong person to rob. The emotionally disturbed teen walked up to off-duty Buffalo Police Officer Lamar McCulley and demanded his valuables in the predawn hours of Friday outside an East Side gas station-minimart. When the officer failed to respond quickly enough, Rodolph raised what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun inches from McCulley's face and again said, "Give me everything you have." "At that point, the officer did give him everything he had at the end of a 9 mm Glock," PBA attorney Thomas Burton said late Friday in providing details of why he believes McCulley acted in self-defense. It turned out the weapon Rodolph pointed at the officer was a BB gun, but Burton said, "At the moment it happened, it might as well have been a cannon." McCulley told a close friend he was not trying to kill the teenager, but only protecting himself. Burton said, "As the officer discharged a fusillade of shots," he backed away and tripped over garbage cans, regained his footing and saw that Rodolph was still pointing the gun at him "and so the officer fired again." One of the shots struck Rodolph in the face and killed him... McCulley had completed his night shift in the South District at 1:30 a. m. and had gone out to purchase food. He was wearing a jacket over his uniform when the teenager walked up to him, police said."

CT: Guy who shot at cops freed: "It was dark. A gang of men, dressed like thugs, carrying guns, were inside. John Bell, a 55-year-old truck driver from Stratford, thought Buzz's Mobil Station on Bridgeport's East Main Street, where he worked a second job, was being robbed. So he pulled his gun. More than 17 shots were fired. And Bell, who was shot twice, was convicted last summer by a federal court jury of attempting to kill Trumbull Police Detective Scott Murray, a member of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, when he fired on Murray, missing both his shots. All that was too much for Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello, who on Friday overturned Bell's June conviction on three federal charges that could have landed him in prison for at least 10 years. "It is apparent that this event would never have occurred but for the task force's imprudent decision to allow no less than nine officers, eight of whom were clad in casual, thug-like street clothing, to descend upon Buzz's in Bridgeport, at night, at closing time with guns drawn," Covello wrote. "Members of the task force had conducted surveillance on the property earlier that day, and were aware that only two employees were on the premises, neither of whom were the subject of the alleged gambling investigation."

Utah home invader survives and goes to jail: "A 50-year-old man shot in September while allegedly breaking into a West Valley City home to confront his romantic rival was released from the hospital and booked into jail Thursday. Robert Wayne Hunter had been hospitalized for 12-gauge-shotgun wounds in his chest and arm, which he suffered during the Sept. 17 incident. West Valley police say Hunter used two loaded handguns to shoot out a sliding-glass door and enter a home near 3700 South and 6000 West, where his estranged wife had been living with another man since July. Before the break-in, Hunter had sent the woman threatening text messages and had told the other man's co-workers he wanted to harm him, according to investigators. The woman hid in the garage while the man, who said he feared for his life, shot Hunter, police said. Hunter then ran to his truck, which was parked a block away, police said, while a neighbor called police. Hunter was located and flown to University Hospital in critical condition, but was later upgraded to stable condition and was released on Thursday after a month-long recovery in the hospital. The shooter was taken into custody but later released, and the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office declined to file charges against him, saying his actions were justified under Utah's self-defense statute". [Update from story blogged here on Sept. 20]

Malaysian businessman shoots robber in self defense: "A Malaysian textile businessman shot a robber in the foot during a robbery attempt at his store, news reports said Sunday, dpa reported. The suspect and his four accomplices entered the textile store in the capital Kuala Lumpur on Saturday with machetes and axes demanding cash. The owner of the store reached for his pump gun and fired two shots in their direction. One of the robbers was said to have been shot at after he allegedly attacked the owner with an axe, while the others managed to flee the scene on their motorcycles, the Star daily reported. City police chief, Ku Chin Wah confirmed the incident and that the police believed another robber could also have been shot."

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Florida teacher shoots and kills intruder: "A Hillsborough County middle school teacher shot and killed a burglar who burst into her home Friday morning. Sheriff's deputies say 62-year-old Juanita Enzor was in her bedroom around 5 a.m. when a man kicked in the front door. Detectives say when the man confronted Enzor, she grabbed her gun and fired, shooting the man in the chest. The bleeding, injured suspect then started attacking Enzor, but she managed to escape and run from her home. Deputies arrived at the scene on Kirkland Drive and found the suspect dead inside. Enzor was slightly injured in the attack. She is a 6th grade teacher at Memorial Middle School in Tampa. The suspect has been identified as 40-year-old Mark C. Johnson [photo above]".

Kentucky Deer Hunter Shoots Bear: "A deer hunter in Harlan County fatally shot a black bear with his muzzleloader after the animal came too close to his hunting blind last Saturday morning. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officer Shane Amburgey determined the hunter, 30-year-old Bobby Koger of Cumberland, acted in self-defense due to the proximity of the bear. "He said the bear came right to his blind and almost stuck his head inside when he shot it," Amburgey said. "We found blood from the bear within a foot of the blind." A blind is a type of camouflaged tent used by hunters to conceal themselves from game. No charges were filed in the case. Another hunter at the scene, 31-year-old James Forester of Cumberland, shot the bear a second time, in an attempt to protect his friend. Investigators found the dead 250-pound male black bear approximately 700-800 yards away. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. Oct. 18 on Black Mountain, located near Gap Branch in northeastern Harlan County. Koger told investigators that he initially saw two bears in the clearing that he was hunting. Koger said one of the bears started trotting toward him when he started yelling at Forester, who was asleep at a gas well approximately 50 yards away, according to Koger's statement. Koger said he started yelling at the bear, but it did not stop coming. Koger told investigators he shot the bear from 3 feet away."

When a revolver is a good idea: "A policeman's finger stopped his gun being fired at his colleagues when it was seized by a man they were trying to arrest, a court has been told. James Lyle Rakatau, 25, fled police when they tried to arrest him in Melbourne on November 14, last year over an outstanding warrant from Western Australia, the Herald Sun reported. The Supreme Court was told senior detectives Matthew Flood, Travis Merlo and Adam Radley gave chase until Sen-Det Flood tackled Rakatau as he tried to climb a fence. Prosecutor Robert Barry said during the struggle that followed Rakatau got hold of Sen-Det Flood's gun from his holster and yelled: "Now you freeze ... ". Sen-Det Flood got both hands on the revolver and held the cylinder so it wouldn't spin and fire. His finger was jammed between the hammer and primer when Rakatau tried to fire more shots as Sen-Dets Radley and Merlo went to intervene. Mr Barry said it was only Sen-Det Flood's index finger that stopped the weapon firing as Rakatau tried a number of times to pull the trigger. Rakatau was eventually subdued with capsicum spray. He pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless conduct endangering life"

Peaceable armed citizens: "Don B. Kates is well known and highly regarded in Second Amendment legal and academic circles, having been a constitutional law professor, a criminologist and a prolific author of scholarly works. "Do guns cause crime?" is a question he's explored in great detail, including analyzing "100+ years of homicide studies." His conclusions? "[F]ar from being ordinary people, 'the vast majority of persons involved in life-threatening violence have a long criminal record with many prior contacts with the justice system.'...it cannot be true that possession of firearms causes ordinary people to murder -- for murderers are virtually never ordinary, but rather are extreme aberrants with life histories of crime, psychopathology and/or substance abuse." Estimates are, the current membership of the NRA stands at around 4 million. Can we agree that they are probably one of the most heavily-armed civilian populations on the planet? How many drive-by shootings do you think were committed last year by NRA members? How many liquor store robberies, home invasions, campus shoot-ups...? How about over the past 10 years? The past 20...? You see where I'm going with this. Frequently put down by their political opponents as blood-thirsty, trigger-happy yahoos, this demographic of armed-to-the-teeth gun enthusiasts is one of the most peaceable on the planet"

Friday, October 24, 2008

Florida: No Charges In Bingo Shooting: "No charges will likely be filed against the manager of a Pensacola bingo hall who took the law into his own hands. Escambia County Sheriff's deputies say Chad England shot and killed an armed robber who stormed into Beachside Bingo on Jackson Street in Pensacola. Investigators say Alton Prewitt, 20, entered the bingo hall around 10pm Wednesday. According to witnesses, Prewitt demanded money and fired at least one shot in the ceiling before England grabbed his own gun and fired back. Prewitt was pronounced dead on the scene. No one else in the bingo hall was hurt. "It looks like a clear case of self defense," says Glenn Austin, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. Austin says he believes England was within his rights to shoot the suspect. "He was defending himself and everyone else in the parlor," he says. Florida has a law that allows residents to protect themselves when they are attacked. The state's "Stand Your Ground Law" makes it legal to use deadly force against an intruder.

Texas: Pizza Delivery Man Shoots, Fends Off Would-Be Robbers: "A pizza delivery man who was taking an order to a house in East Texas pulled out a gun and opened fire on two would-be robbers, police said. One of the alleged robbers was hospitalized after getting shot in the back, Lufkin police said. The Papa John's pizza delivery man, who's licensed to carry a handgun, wasn't hurt. The shooting was Tuesday night, after the delivery man walked up to a house and rang a doorbell, Lufkin police said. It turned out the house was vacant and two armed men approached him from the side of the house, The Lufkin Daily News reported Thursday. The delivery man drew a .22 caliber Derringer and fired two shots, and the assailants ran away, police said. It appears unlikely the delivery man will face any charges since he "was defending himself at the time of the shooting," Lufkin Police Lt. David Young said. Police said Johnx R. Greer, 18, was arrested at a hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the back. He's been charged with aggravated robbery and was being held in the Angelina County Jail on a $100,000 bond"

North Carolina resident shot suspect during burglary: "Fayetteville police said that a resident shot and wounded a suspect during a home break-in Thursday afternoon. Two people forced their way into a residence in the 400 block of Acacia Circle around 2:30 p.m., officers said. The victim was at home and heard the burglars as they tried to take several items. Investigators said that the resident confronted the burglars with a firearm. The resident shot one person in the lower leg and detained him until police arrived. The second burglar fled the scene by unknown means, police said. The suspect was transported to Cape Fear Valley Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Police said they plan to charge him with felony breaking-and-entering and felony larceny. Investigators have not been able to determine the man's identity."

Missouri: Burglary suspect stopped by armed homeowner: "Scott County deputies arrested a 35-year-old Sikeston man Wednesday in connection with an attempted burglary, according to a Scott County Sheriff's Department news release. Jason Roach allegedly approached a residence on County Highway 538 on Tuesday and rang the doorbell. Police say Roach turned the doorknob and would have gained entry, according to the homeowner, were it not for the safety latch on the door. Roach entered the home through a rear garage entrance where he was greeted by the homeowner, who held a handgun, according to the news release. Roach allegedly told the homeowner he was lost and asked for directions. Roach had recently been charged with another burglary and was currently out on bond. He is currently held at Scott County Jail on $5,000 cash-only bond."

Thursday, October 23, 2008

WI: Deputy acted in self-defense : "The Dane County DA's office says the Dane County sheriff's deputy who shot and wounded an escaped inmate earlier this month acted in self-defense and won't face criminal charges. Deputy Jason Walters shot at Jacob Prochnow three times, hitting him twice. Walters says he fired his gun when it appeared that Prochnow was reaching for a weapon. He did not have a gun. Deputies were called to Prochnow's location in Cambridge for a report of a suicidal man. Prochnow later admitted to lying to police about why he had a gun. He had escaped from the Jefferson County Jail about a week prior to the shooting."

AZ jury finds man not guilty: "After a four-day trial and about an hour of deliberation, an eight-person jury found a Kingman man not guilty of second-degree murder. Robert Reed, 63, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Gary Shane. According to the defense, on March 17, 2007, Reed, Shane and Shane's wife were drinking and then arrived at Shane's house. Shane's wife left the room at some point. At that time, Shane and Reed got into a discussion about a family matter. Shane pulled out a gun that he had borrowed from Reed, and pointed it at Reed. Reed and Shane then struggled to gain control of the gun. In the process, Shane was shot once in the stomach. Reed shot Shane a second time when he thought Shane was reaching for a shotgun."

IL: Off duty cop kills robber : "An off-duty Chicago police detective shot and killed a convicted felon who police say tried to rob him Tuesday morning in the Englewood neighborhood.The shooting happened around 11:15 a.m. in the 6200 block of South Honore Street as the detective was doing work on a home he owned on the block. The man approached the officer, pointed a gun at the detective and demanded money, according to police.Sherrod Griffin, 44, of the 6100 block of South Whipple Street, was shot once in the abdomen and prounced dead at the Stein Institute, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office."

Hope in NJ: "Currently, it is virtually impossible for the average citizen to get a permit for carrying a concealed weapon in New Jersey. Only active (non-retired) police officers can open carry and those that can prove to the Supreme Court in Trenton that he or she has a "justifiable need" can get a permit for concealed carry. The court's interpretation of what constitutes a "justifiable need" makes it almost impossible for any normal lawabiding citizen of New Jersey to obtain the permit for self-defense. But I believe there is hope for freedom for those who want it. Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-25) has sponsored a bill (A1282) that would revise the procedure for obtaining a permit to carry a firearm for the purpose of self-defense. This bill would make it possible for qualified persons who do not have a criminal history to carry their firearm for personal defense".

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Kansas homeowner thwarts home robbery attempt: "Wichita police are looking for three suspects involved in an attempted residential robbery early Monday morning. A 54-year-old man said a man kicked open the front door of his house in the 2000 block of South Madison at about 12:40 a.m. Monday and pointed a gun at him and his 21-year-old daughter. The man told police he grabbed the gun and forced the suspect to the front lawn, where he saw two others. One of the other suspects fired a shotgun at the victim, and the suspects ran north from the yard. As the suspects drove away from the area, the victim said, one of them fired a handgun at the house. No injuries were reported."

Wyoming man shoots mountain lion in self defense: "An Afton hunter killed a mountain lion earlier this month while hunting deer with his father in western Wyoming. The state Game and Fish Department determined the killing was self defense. Adam Lancaster told Warden Todd Graham that he killed the mountain lion on Oct. 7 as it approached the hunters while they were field dressing and boning a buck mule deer they had killed. The encounter occurred in the north end of Wyoming lion hunt Area 14 in the Coal Creek drainage, about four miles south of U.S. 89 on Salt Pass. No one was injured. They reported the incident immediately."

TX: Students threatened by college over gun safety tips flyer : "After distributing a jocular flyer listing `Top Ten Gun Safety Tips' at the school's `club rush,' a student group was threatened with probation and derecognition at Lone Star College-Tomball, a public college near Houston. After college officials banned the Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) from distributing the flyer, the school's general counsel invoked the specter of the Virginia Tech shootings, suggesting that even a `mention of firearms and weapons' is inherently a `material interference' with the school's operations. The group has turned to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) for help."

Who are the "only ones" we can trust with guns? : "Are police the only ones trustworthy enough to bear arms? Meet Lee Paige, a DEA agent who maintained exactly that. `I'm the only one in this room professional enough that I know of to carry this Glock .40,' he told a roomful of school kids in an anti-gun/drug lecture, then proceeded to shoot himself in the foot trying to holster the weapon. How often have we been told this though, by police officials, by politicians, by anti-gun groups, by the media? Our laws have been geared to exempt police from carry restrictions in `No Guns' zones, assigning to the uniform and the badge an automatic and unquestioned trust that police are better trained, and just generally more cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent than we mere mortal citizens. They are, we are told, the only ones who can handle the awesome trust of being armed in public. Thing is, that doesn't bear out, and the best benchmark to test that is by looking at the remarkable record of the concealed carry experiment that has been successfully conducted in every state but two to varying degrees."

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

TN: Self-Defense Ruled In Case Where Student Was Killed: "A criminal homicide charge was dismissed Friday morning against James Bryan Miller in the case in which a Central High School student was killed in a home invasion at Summit. Isaac Robinson was killed in the incident on Oct. 3 at a trailer at 3933 Pattentown Road.... Miller was at the residence with Jamie Schultz, Jeff Duckworth and Kaitlin Ezell. He said Miller was on a love seat with Ms. Schultz near the front wall of the trailer when they heard pit bulls barking outside. He said Miller looked out and could see under a night light that three people were approaching the trailer. He could see that they were wearing hoodies and masks and one had a shotgun, it was stated. Det. Merritt said Miller went for a nearby gun and began firing as soon as the trio forced their way inside. Robinson later died from his wounds after being taken to Parkridge Hospital. Shadden was shot in the back and was interviewed by police after he went to Erlanger Hospital for treatment of his wound. The third person was not hit by the flying bullets. Det. Merritt said Shadden had been involved in a similar home invasion at the same trailer on Sept. 20. He said in that incident Shadden went in with a gun and shot an individual in the trailer. He said those inside jumped Shadden and beat him up. The detective said Shadden will be facing charges in connection with both incidents. In dismissing the murder charge against Miller, Judge Moon cited a Tennessee statute that permits a person to use deadly force in their own home, is not conducting any unlawful activity and who is in reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury."

OH: Clevelanders register their guns, but don't have to : " Hundreds of Cleveland residents voluntarily register their guns with the city, even though a state law banned Cleveland and other cities from forcing people to register their weapons.Cleveland officials said they have always enforced state laws, even those that conflict with city ordinances, after the state passed a law last year that revised portions of the concealed-carry law and implemented one set of gun rules statewide, nullifying local firearms ordinances.For example, the city no longer requires people to register their handguns with City Hall. But some people continue to do so, and the city willingly takes down their information, said Lt. Thomas Stacho, a police spokesman. "

AR: Gun enthusiast attempts to repeal open-carry ban: "While never being a victim of gun violence, Brian Martin of Jonesboro said he hears about it getting closer to his home every day."If I can't live, what can I do?" Martin asked rhetorically.What Martin is doing is attempting to change state law to make it legal for him and others to openly carry guns. Arkansas law specifically prohibits the carrying of handguns outside a person's home or car unless that person has a concealed weapons permit, is hunting using a handgun permitted by the State Game and Fish Commission, or is acting in the capacity of a law enforcement official, security guard, correctional officer or member of the armed forces. The law does not allow the open carry of handguns for those not in law enforcement."

Good Washington AG Opinion on proposed gun ban : "The Bellevue-based Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is hailing an opinion issued this week by Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna that says cities cannot enact local laws to prohibit the possession of firearms on city property or in city-owned facilities, effectively nixing a plan by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels to do just that by executive fiat. The opinion was written in response to an inquiry from several state lawmakers. It was signed by Deputy Solicitor General William B. Collins."

Monday, October 20, 2008

Indiana: Victim, intruder shot in home invasion: "An apparent home invasion left both the Near-Eastside resident as well as the alleged intruder hospitalized with gunshot wounds, police said today. Jason Kennedy, 25, was listed in serious but stable condition at Wishard Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigators said that after being shot, Kennedy fired back at his alleged attacker, Thomas King, 29, of McCordsville. King was listed in critical condition at Wishard. According to an IMPD news release, Kennedy and a group of friends had been sitting on a porch in the 200 block of North Eastern Avenue early today when they were approached by King and another man, and began arguing with them. Police said the men returned to the residence about 5:50 a.m. and robbed Kennedy and one of his companions at gunpoint. According to the news release, "it appears that King, while robbing the two individuals, pointed his gun at Kennedy and shot him in the head. Kennedy then pulled out his gun and returned fire, hitting King.'' Police found both King and Kennedy outside the residence. Investigators said they were still seeking King's alleged accomplice in the incident."

In this case, having a gun made a difference: "Born and raised in Woodbridge, the 46-year-old Babecki moved to Coosa County, Ala., in December 2007 and was married on May 3. Shortly after midnight on May 29, he heard the unmistakable noise of someone breaking into his mobile home. He reached for his loaded handgun next to his bed, and shouted to his wife Heather to grab her rifle. The intruder entered their bedroom, and fired a shot into the floor. Babecki figures the bad guy wanted to intimidate them, not knowing they were armed. While Babecki fumbled with the fanny pack that contained his gun, his wife pointed her rifle at the intruder. According to Babecki, his wife would have fired the rifle, except that she feared she might kill her pet birds in their cage right outside the bedroom. "I didn't know his intention was, except when he saw two people pointing guns at him he left," said Babecki ... He explained that when they called 911 after the intruder fled, it took about 45 minutes for a sheriff's officer to arrive. "Here (in Woodbridge), the cops would be at the house in three minutes. There (in Coosa County) you're on your own."

PA: Activists rally 'round open-carry heroine: "Gun-rights activists who traveled to Lebanon from as far away as Pittsburgh in support of Second-Amendment poster girl Meleanie Hain said it was worth the trip. A group of two dozen supporters applauded and cheered when Lebanon County President Judge Robert J. Eby announced his decision yesterday to restore Meleanie Hain's concealed-weapons permit ... 'I wasn't surprised,' 37-year-old Greg Rotz ... said of Eby's ruling. ...Rotz faced similar charges after he wore a sidearm to his voting precinct on Election Day last November, later receiving a letter from the Franklin County sheriff demanding that he turn over his handgun. He appealed the decision and was vindicated in January when a judge threw out the case."

GOA releases Congressional Voter Guide: "With the election less than one month away, Gun Owners of America is doing its best to keep gun owners informed about who is protecting your rights in the Congress. Many gun owners are familiar with the differences between the candidates at the presidential level, but how well do they know the views and actions of those who are running at the congressional level?"

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Californian apartment owner shoots would-be burglar: "Not my house, said one Rancho Cordova resident. When he heard someone trying to kick in his front door just after 11 a.m. today, the 26-year-old resident of a Vehicle Drive apartment grabbed a gun and shot the suspect, according to authorities. Then he held the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived. The suspect was transported to a local hospital and is expected to survive, said Sacramento County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran, who also serves as spokesman for the Rancho Cordova Police Department. After he was treated, he is likely to be arrested on suspicion of home invasion robbery, Curran said. Police were called to the 2300 block by the resident's mother. She had been on the phone with her son when he suddenly yelled that somebody was trying to break into his apartment and hung up, Curran said. At the scene, officers found evidence that someone had been trying to force entry into the apartment, Curran said. They also found a handgun - other than the resident's - that they believe was carried by the attempted burglar, Curran said. He said the resident and suspect did not know each other, and it's unknown why that apartment was targeted. Officers found no evidence of illegal activity, like drugs, in the apartment, Curran said."

Texas Man fatally shoots would-be robber: "Two men with shotguns tried to rob a man late Thursday in southeast Fort Worth, but the would-be victim pulled his own gun, killing one, police said. Anthony Wilson, 27, of Arlington died at about 10 p.m. at Huguley Hospital, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner's office. Police responding to a report of shots fired at the address met with the 35-year-old resident, who said he was in his pickup outside the home when he was approached by two men toting shotguns. The man was "forced to lie down in the street while the suspects contemplated what to do next," said Lt. Paul Henderson, police spokesman. "One of the men," Henderson said, "decided to force (the resident) back inside his residence and told him to get up. As (he) began to stand up he retrieved a handgun that was concealed in his pants and began slinging lead at the two would-be robbers. "One suspect was hit multiple times and immediately collapsed in the street." The other man ran southbound from the location, Henderson said. "A car drove by," he added, "and picked up the collapsed suspect and left the area." Meanwhile, the hospital staff at Huguley called police to report that a man had just arrived with multiple gunshot wounds, but the man, later identified as Wilson, could not be saved, Henderson said. The man who shot the robbers was not charged with anything Thursday night, Henderson said."

Georgia homeowner shoots trailer invader: "Tift County authorities say a homeowner shot a man after he attempted to force his way into a rural mobile home off Highway 125. Sheriff's department spokesman David Haire says the homeowner, 33-year-old John Henry Howard Jr., was not hurt during the home invasion. It happened early Wednesday at about 2:30 a.m. Haire did not identify the suspected burglar, but said his injuries appeared to be serious. The intruder was shot 4 times in the head."

Louisiana: Aggressive husband shot: "James Stanley was shot in the abdomen by a homeowner in the 4400 block of Kent Road where Stanley's wife had gone to seek refuge after a domestic argument, according to Caddo deputies. Stanley and his wife got into an argument at a local business just after midnight. The womanleft in Stanley's truck, and he followed her in another vehicle. Before arriving at their house, Stanley began ramming the truck from behind several times. His wife stopped a few blocks from home, and ran to the residence of friends for help, deputies said. Stanley began banging on the door and was told to leave, which he did, but he soon returned. The homeowner warned Stanley he had a gun and ordered him to leave. Stanley continued to bang on the door and broke a window. The homeowner then fired a shot through the door with a 12-gauge shotgun, striking Stanley in the stomach. He was taken to LSU Hospital in Shreveport where he underwent surgery. Deputies say Stanley was the aggressor in the incident, and he has been charged with aggravated assault, disturbing the peace, and simple property damage. The homeowner has not been charged."

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Florida homeowner shoots invader: "A homeowner apparently wrestled a gun away from a home invader Wednesday afternoon and shot the man, Marion County sheriff's deputies said. Three males kicked in the door of a home on Pine Run Terrace in Marion County around 1:15 p.m. and beat two residents at gunpoint, deputies said. The homeowner somehow retrieved the assailant's gun and shot him, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. The culprits, including the one who was shot, then fled the home, deputies said.A short time later, a 19-year-old man identified as Latwain McLaren was dropped off at Munroe Regional Medical Center suffering from a gunshot wound, deputies said. He underwent surgery in critical condition, according to the sheriff's office."

Oklahoma Homeowner Shoots Nut: "A Tulsa homeowner shoots a man police say was causing all sorts of problems near 34th & Riverside. Shortly before midnight, police were called to Riverside Drive because a man was seen screaming and shouting at cars driving by. About 10 minutes later, police received another call from a homeowner about the man trying to break into his house. The homeowner was on the phone with a 911 operator and told police he had a gun. He left the phone off the hook and the operator heard several shots fired. The homeowner told police the man had to break into his home and was shouting threats at him. That's when he grabbed his gun and opened fire, hitting the man in the right leg. "When officers arrived, they found him in the flower bed at the front of the house and he still had enough energy to fight and resist officers. It took a few officers to get him into custody, but he was eventually placed in handcuffs," says Captain Richard Alexander. The man was taken to St. John Medical center with non-life threatening injuries. Police say the man was still very drunk. The man could possibly face charges of first-degree burglary and maybe charges on the other houses that he tried to break into. Police say it also look like he tried to vandalize a car. Police say because the homeowner was in fear for his life he could be protected under the "Make My Day" law against unlawful intrusion."

Texas: Robbery victim wounds assailant : "A man shot by a robber at a Northeast Side apartment complex wounded the gunman after he dropped his gun during their struggle, police said. The incident happened about 9:30 a.m. in the 4600 block of Thousand Oaks Drive at The Crest of Thousand Oaks apartments. Police Chief William McManus said the gunman was wearing a ski mask when he approached the victim, later identified as Terry Hoover. "They struggled over the weapon," McManus said at the scene. "The complainant was shot in the thigh." The victim managed to get the gun, however, and he shot the robber in the torso. The men were rushed to a hospital in separate ambulances. The suspect, Troy Curtis, 40, is charged with aggravated robbery with bodily injury. He was being held in Bexar County Jail on $50,000 bond."

Judge approves ACLU lawsuit against BATF: "ACLU Director of Communications Brandon Hensler says the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida received an early victory today when Senior Federal Judge Lacey A. Collier denied the ATF's motions for summary judgment in Kilpatrick v. U.S. The ACLU filed the case on April 18, 2006, on behalf of Karen J. Kilpatrick, who claimed that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) violated her Free Speech rights. Kilpatrick was driving her blue van in Pensacola on April 19, 2004, with the slogans "Remember the Children of Waco" and "Boo ATF" written on some of the windows when she was pulled over by police for questioning by the ATF. The ACLU argues in the lawsuit that her First Amendment Rights to Free Speech and her Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure were violated when officers detained her for an hour, searched her car without consent, and ordered her to remove the writing on the side of her van."

Friday, October 17, 2008

Texas homeowner kills intruder: "A Southeast Side homeowner shot and killed a man early Thursday morning who was trying to break into his bedroom window. The man, believed to be in his 20s, was trying to get into a rear bedroom window of a house in the 1400 block of Greer and when the homeowner shot him, police said. The homeowner, a firearms instructor, was home alone and in the bedroom the burglar was attempting to enter. The homeowner, who teaches people how to shoot weapons, told police he awoke just after 3 a.m. to a see a man trying to climb in his bedroom window. Police say the homeowner got a handgun and fired at least three times. No charges are expected to be filed against the homeowner. Investigators are trying to determine if the dead man was linked to a nearby burglary 15 minutes before he was shot at the house on Greer."

Texas: Man shot after breaking into home: "Police believe a 21-year-old man entered a Dallas condominium early Thursday to steal a flat screen TV, but he was shot to death instead, police said. Gary Williams was taken to Baylor Medical Center following the shooting about 2 a.m. at the condo in the 6100 block of Tremont Street, southwest of Lakewood Country Club, said Sgt. Ray Beaudreault, a homicide detective. Williams was pronounced dead on arrival, having been shot multiple times by the homeowner who was armed with a 9mm handgun, Beaudreault said. The resident told police that he was sleeping, but his wife heard something downstairs. She awoke her husband who got his handgun and went to investigate. He told officers that he confronted a man, later identified as Williams, who, he said, was removing the TV from the wall, Beaudreault said. The robber "came at him," Beaudreault said, so he opened fire. "He fell down a brief time, then got up and jumped through the window that he came in from," the detective said of Williams. "He landed spread-eagle on the front porch and he was lifeless." Beaudreault said the case will be referred to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, and prosecutors will show the information to a grand jury. Beaudreault called that procedure routine. He indicated the man probably won't be indicted by the grand jury."

Arizona: Evidence at double-shooting consistent with self defense: "Evidence in the fatal shooting of two home invaders by a University of Arizona student appears to be consistent with his story that he was defending himself, police said. The 23-year-old student shot and killed Shontel R. Early, 30, and Wesley O. Fenstermacher, 29, after the two men attempted to invade his home early Thursday morning, said Sgt. Fabian Pacheco, a Tucson Police Department spokesman. The student was home alone in the 800 block of East Adams Street, near North Euclid Avenue and East Speedway. There was a knock at the door and one of the men asked for someone who did not live there. The student looked past the man he was speaking with and saw another man, who had his face covered and was armed with a gun. He retreated into his home and grabbed his own handgun, but the men made their way in. The student called police to report the shooting. When officers arrived they found the men two men dead just inside the doorway. The student was questioned and is cooperating with police. His name is not being released. There is no indication that the student is or has been involved in any criminal activity, police said." [Amusing: The newspaper has a picture of the dead white guy but no picture of the dead black guy]

California man shoots dog while under attack: "A man who shot a dog Thursday in Oildale was under attack at the time, according to the Kern County Sheriff's Office. Elmer Walker, 72, was walking on the 700 block of the north alley of Woodrow Avenue when two pit bulls pushed open a gate where they lived and attacked the man, sheriff's officials said. Walker hit one of the dogs with a stick and shot the other dog with a .22 revolver he's permitted to carry, causing the dogs the retreat to their home. Walker wasn't hurt, and the condition of the dog who was shot in the jaw was unknown. The dog's owner, Arnold Coon II, said he feels the dog's were provoked, and he said the dogs don't have a history of violent behavior. Kern County Animal Control Services Department took custody of the dogs and is conducting an investigation.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Tennessee homeowner kills break-in suspect: "A 58-year-old homeowner shot a robbery suspect to death early Tuesday after a struggle at a home in Raleigh. The man caught the 20-year-old intruder trying to come inside his home at 3161 Scenic Highway through a patio door at 12:25 a.m, police said. He fought the man and is believed to have been struck several times with a pistol before he shot the intruder, who died at the scene. The resident was treated for injuries he suffered during the struggle. He has been released from the hospital. No charges have been filed pending a full investigation.

Texas robber shot by victim: "A party at an apartment on Oltorf Street in South Austin turned into a crime scene over the weekend. According to police reports, 26-year-old John Crayton robbed a number of party goers and ended up getting himself shot in the stomach. "They heard a gunshot from inside the closet, and they wondered where the gunshot came from," said Sgt. Brian Miller with the Austin Police Department. "They opened up the closet, and Mr. Crayton jumped out. He proceeded to rob everybody inside the apartment." There were seven people in the front part of the apartment. Police said Crayton pointed his gun at those in the room and even hit several of his victims with the weapon. All he got was a pack of Marlboro Light cigarettes and $3 from one victim. Crayton apparently planned to exit out of back of the apartment and kicked in the door to a bedroom. Police said there were two other victims in that room, and one had a gun. "I don't think he anticipated that," Miller said. "I don't think he anticipated anyone being there." The victim in that room took aim and shot Crayton in the stomach. "It was registered, he owns it and by Texas law, you have the right to defend your property and yourself," Miller said."

In many US airports, guns are OK outside security: "Flying in the U.S. has been transformed since Sept. 11, with passengers forced to remove their shoes, take out their laptop computers and put liquids and gels in clear plastic bags. Yet it's perfectly legal to take a loaded gun right up to the security checkpoint at some of the nation's biggest airports. An Associated Press survey of the 20 busiest U.S. airports found that seven of them - Philadelphia, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and San Francisco - let people with gun permits carry firearms in the general public areas of the terminal. Some anti-terrorism experts say that is a glaring security loophole that could endanger airport workers, passengers and people waiting to pick them up or see them off. Some suggest that allowing guns in terminals is practically asking for them to be smuggled aboard a plane. "If your airport is not secure, then the security of your airplanes is jeopardized," said Rafi Ron, former security chief at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel who now works as an aviation consultant. "You cannot separate the two." Other authorities say the nonsecure areas of the terminal are no different from other public venues and do not warrant special restrictions."

State AG says Seattle's proposed gun ban is illegal: "Attorney General Rob McKenna says that Seattle's proposed firearm ban is illegal. Cities in Washington do not have the authority to enact a local law that prohibits gun possession on city-owned property. In response to several violent incidents, Mayor Greg Nickels proposed a ban on handguns on city property that would have included guns owned by licensed carriers. At the time, legal experts pointed out that Washington state law specifically prohibits local governments from adopting policies that are more restrictive than state law. The Washington Constitution also provides strong protection for gun owners: "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired...." At the time of the proposal, Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "I wouldn't quite say there is a constitutional right to carry a gun at every city-sponsored event or in many buildings that already exist throughout the state."

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Alabama: Would-be robber shot dead: "A Fairfield man attempting to rob another man in Pleasant Grove was shot and killed by his intended victim Monday night, police say. Authorities are looking for others believed involved. Pleasant Grove Police Chief Bill Waites said a man went to check on a relative's home on Newberry Drive in the Ridgeway subdivision about 9 p.m. The man got out of his pickup truck and was approached by two armed men who demanded money "He pulled his own gun and shot one of them," Waites said. Waites would not identify the shooter. Marquis Ledelle Strange, 18, of Fairfield, was pronounced dead on the scene."

Ill.: Clerk kills fleeing robber: "A suburban grocery store clerk fired three shots at an armed robbery suspect fleeing on a bicycle, killing the man and raising difficult questions about the line between self-defense and vigilantism. Authorities in Waukegan on Tuesday had not decided whether to pursue charges, but others had already made up their minds. "Any time you point a gun at me and if I've got a gun and I've got the opportunity, I'm going to use it on you," Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde said. "With society the way it is now and with the number of armed robberies you have, you've got to fight back." Experts said the difference between self-defense and a crime likely will come down to whether the suspect was posing a threat when the clerk decided to fire."... Police said Brandon Starks, 20, held up the People's Market about 7 p.m. Monday, brandishing a firearm as he demanded money from the clerk. After the clerk handed over the money, Starks fled on his bicycle. The clerk followed him outside and shot him three times, Cmdr. Wayne Walles said. Starks, of the 2000 block of Hervey Avenue, North Chicago, was pronounced dead at Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan at 7:35 p.m. He was paroled from a residential burglary conviction less than a month ago, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections."

Park employees fear people with rights: "More than three out of four (77 percent) of 1,400 present and former employees of the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) predict that the controversial Department of Interior (DOI) proposed rule reversing the long-standing prohibition of carrying loaded, concealed weapons in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges will have an adverse affect on the ability of NPS and USFWS employees to accomplish their mission. This finding and others are contained in "Natural and Cultural Resource Impacts and Management Consequences of the Proposed Regulation to Authorize the Possession of Concealed Firearms in Units of the National Park & National Wildlife Refuge Systems," a major new report the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (CNPSR), which now has more than 670 members".

PA: Mother wants gun permit restored: "A Lebanon County mother who carries a pistol will ask a judge to restore her concealed weapons permit. Meleanie Hain is scheduled to appear Tuesday afternoon in county court. She's appealing the county sheriff's revocation of her permit after other parents complained last month that she was carrying her loaded handgun in a holster at her daughter's soccer game. Hain's lawyer said state law allows gun owners to carry their weapons openly without a license everywhere but Philadelphia. Dozens of second amendment rights supporters are expected to attend the hearing."

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

New study says gun shows do not boost homicides, suicides: "The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today applauded a new joint University of Michigan -- University of Maryland study that says gun shows do not contribute to higher murder or suicide rates. 'We've known all along that gun shows are not the arms bazaars for criminals and lunatics that anti-gunners have claimed,' said CCRKBA Legislative Director Joe Waldron."

An open letter to Kathy Reichs: "My family likes your TV show very much, and we were especially enjoying your novels when I ran across those two paragraphs in Grave Secrets about gun ownership in America. I had thought you were more sensible than that, which is why I'm taking you publicly to task this way. My object is not to make an enemy of you (although I may do that) but to win you over, novelist-to-novelist, to the side of reason and science. ... At www.jpfo.org/filegen-a-m/ib.htm, you'll find a video Innocents Betrayed, a presentation that gives an historical account of people allowing themselves to be stripped of the means to defend themselves, and being led to slaughter -- again and again -- as a direct result. Please make no mistake, gun control is an overture to genocide. If you take nothing else from this letter, remember that. Gun control -- victim disarmament -- is an overture to genocide.

Gun Silences Alarm Clock: "Called the Gun O'Clock, it is priced around $50 and is made by a Japanese toy company. When the alarm sounds, the groggy-eyed have to grab the gun piece and shoot the clock. A clean shot at the bullseye is necessary to stop the annoying alarm. Notably, the psychological effect of waking and grabbing a gun is considered worrisome, except in the U.S. since many believe it's a habit for Americans. Nonetheless, if you are used to grabbing a weapon on awakening, the Gun O'Clock might cause problems. Get your guns mixed up and chances are that a new alarm clock will be needed.

For readers who do not also follow my Tongue Tied blog, I reproduce below two recent posts from there:

Judge: Teen can't wear gun T-shirt to school

We read:

"A federal judge sided with a southcentral Pennsylvania school district in a dispute over whether a high school student should have been barred from wearing a T-shirt with images of guns on it. "Students have no constitutional right to promote violence in our public schools," U.S. District Judge James Knoll Gardner in Allentown wrote in an opinion issued Tuesday.

Donald Miller III, now a 15-year-old sophomore at Penn Manor High School in Millersville, was given detention in December after he defied an assistant principal's order to turn the shirt inside-out. Images of two guns were printed on the shirt, along with phrases including, "United States Terrorist Hunting Permit No Bag Limit."

Miller's parents sued the school district earlier this year, arguing that his freedom of speech was violated. The shirt, a gift from an uncle who is stationed in Iraq, was intended to be a patriotic show of support for the troops, they argued.

Just a picture of a gun "promotes violence"? Very shaky reasoning. Could it just possibly promote self-defense and thus DETER violence? I would have thought that stomping Old Glory was more likely to promote violence. And we all know that THAT is protected speech.

Wanna guess that the judge is just a doctrinaire gun-hater? (Though he probably owns one himself, on past precedents. There's one law for "the little people" and another for the Leftist superior beings).

Must not even mention guns

We read:

"A performance by cheerleaders at a Texas high school pep rally last month has sparked a battle between some students and the administration over whether skits depicting gun violence are appropriate for school, according to the Daily Sentinel.

Cheerleaders at Nacogdoches High School in Nacogdoches, Tex., performed a skit wearing cowboy hats and carrying toy guns while they shot down cheerleaders dressed as the opposing team - the Center High School Roughriders - who had come to steal the NHS mascot, the newspaper reported....

More than 120 students have signed a petition protesting "gun promotion" at pep rallies, but the school principal, Nathan Chaddick, called the skit "simple, innocent satire" to boost school spirit, according to the Sentinel.

Monday, October 13, 2008

WI: Man shot wife-batterer in self defense : "That shooting over the weekend in Roxbury was apparently in self-defense, according to investigators. According to the Dane County Sheriff's Office: Douglas Deviney was shot by Brian Butler who had been trying to break up a fight between Deviney and Deviney's wife. Deviney broke into Butler's house when Butler and Deviney's wife fled to that location during the dispute. Butler told investigators he fire his .9mm handgun at Deviney "in an attempt to defend himself." Deviney was shot three times. He is accused of battery, domestic battery, and strangulation in the incident. Butler has not been charged with a crime. The Dane County DA's office is still reviewing the case."

MS man claims self-defense in bear killing: "A George County man who pleaded guilty to killing a Louisiana black bear told a federal judge he shot the bear in self-defense. Forty-six-year-old Darryl Eubanks pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to killing and transporting the black bear, an endangered species. Assistant U. S. Attorney David Fulcher said Eubanks shot the bear twice while he was hunting deer with his dogs between December 24, 2007, and January 18, 2008. Fulcher says Eubanks loaded the bear on a trailer to dump the corpse. Eubanks was arrested June 3 by officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."

What Happened To The Right Of Self Defense in Tennessee: "Since when do residents of Chattanooga and/or Hamilton County not have the right to defend themselves? I am making reference to the arrest of James Bryan Miller for "criminal homicide" and the fact that some media outlets have said Mr. Miller was wanted for murder. The reported facts clearly state that three masked and armed assailants illegally entered the property where Mr. Miller was located. Mr. Miller grabbed a gun and started shooting, killing one of the thugs and wounding another. I am not saying that Mr. Miller is an angel. I do not know, but clearly he has had legal problems before if his mug shot was so readily available. Still, the important issue is that Mr. Miller is being charged with homicide while had he not done what he did, it is entirely possible that the thugs who broke into the property where Mr. Miller was located may have killed Mr. Miller and anyone else at the residence. Three guys breaking into a residence while wearing masks and toting guns are not there to sell cookies."

CA: Sheriff begins taking away concealed weapons permits: "The Sheriff's Department has begun the process of revoking hundreds of concealed weapon permits across Orange County. This week, department officials confirmed that 146 letters have been sent out advising current license holders that their permits to carry firearms in public - called CCWs - are being revoked. There are currently 1,024 permit holders. `The Department has determined that your identified risk does not meet the good cause threshold as required under the new CCW policy based upon the information you provided. As a result of this determination, the Department's present intention is to revoke your CCW license,' reads the form letter sent out this month."

Sunday, October 12, 2008

NY pizza man shoots robber: "A pizza deliveryman fought off three robbers at gunpoint and shot one of them in the back Thursday night, police say. The deliveryman, who works for Tomatoes Pizza on Kensington Avenue, walked up to the house in the 400 block of Dartmouth Avenue and was confronted by the three would-be robbers, police said. At least one of the bandits had a gun. The deliveryman, whose name has not been released, works for the same pizza shop where another deliveryman was fatally wounded during a robbery on New Years Eve 16 years ago. No charges have been filed in the overnight shooting and attempted robbery, as detectives continue to investigate. Buffalo police say the deliveryman was not injured. "He has a permit for the gun, and he apparently used it lawfully to defend himself," Buffalo police spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge said at mid-morning. Police also have not identified the 15-year-old male who was shot once in the back during Thursday night's robbery attempt. Following the shooting, which occurred at about 9:45 p.m., the three attempted robbers fled to nearby Shirley Avenue, where at least one of them apparently lives. The wounded teen was taken from there to Erie County Medical Center, where police said he's in stable condition."

CA: Intruder shot near UC Riverside: "Two months after an intruder was shot to death in a botched home-invasion robbery near UC Riverside, two suspects remain at large, the case has gone cold and the victims won't speak to police, a Riverside police sergeant said. On July 24, two men entered a house in the 3200 block of Celeste Drive and made demands to four college students, said Riverside police Sgt. Mark Rossi. Rossi declined to say what the demands were for, but the nature of the demands leads police to believe the intruders were at the house to rob it, although they did not take anything. The situation devolved into a fight and a shootout, Rossi said. One intruder pulled out a gun and started shooting and one victim found a gun in the house and shot to death Ryan Aron Casey, 20, of Garden Grove, Rossi said. Police say they believe the victim shot the intruder in self defense, Rossi said. Rossi said two of the victims were shot and the other two received other injuries, but have recovered. All of the victims were attending UCR or another college, Rossi said. The victims have not been forthcoming recently with officers, Rossi said. A small amount of marijuana was found in the house and the victims could face charges, Rossi said."

Guns, flags in Obama local ad buys: "Yesterday, hours after the NRA issued its seven-months-in-the-making endorsement of John McCain, the Obama campaign announced a new radio ad designed to counter the fears of gun owners concerned about Obama's Second Amendment record. Outdoorsman and TV host Tony Dean, who describes himself as a "lifelong Republican" now supporting Obama, assures voters in the ad that Obama will allow them to "keep our guns and our jobs." In a script rife with hunting metaphors (McCain's attacks are "way off target," and he's "trying to camouflage his record"), Dean says that "Barack will protect our Second Amendment rights - our freedom to own guns and defend ourselves. And Barack will protect our jobs too." The 60-second ad will run in Wisconsin and Minnesota".

NRA ad uses Hillary's words against Obama on guns: "The National Rifle Association is turning to Hillary Rodham Clinton to bolster its criticism of Barack Obama's positions on gun issues. The NRA's Political Victory Fund planned a national newspaper ad Thursday reviving a Clinton mailing that accused Obama of waffling on gun issues. Clinton's campaign sent the mailing when the New York senator was challenging Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. It accuses Obama of changing his statements on gun issues to try to fit the audience he was addressing. "Hillary was right: You can't trust Obama with your guns," says the NRA political action committee's ad, scheduled to run in USA Today. The PAC has spent at least $2.3 million on anti-Obama efforts, including more than $100,000 on the new USA Today ad. The NRA ad includes a reproduction of Clinton's mailing, which mentioned Obama's comment at an April fundraiser in San Francisco that some small-town voters bitter about lost jobs "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Wisconsin 8th Grader stops invader with BB gun: "13 year old Jack Theisen had to make a quick decision when two would-be robbers were in the process of coming through an unlocked, basement door, and Theisen was home alone. Theisen grabbed his Red Ryder model BB gun and shot the first invader in the shoulder, scaring off both men. "He's resilient," Jack Theisen's father, Mike Theisen told 27 News. Mike Theisen said his son, an eighth grade student at St. James Catholic School, has taken a hunter safety course and is proficient and safe with guns. Theisen said his son spotted the two men as they cased the front of the house on Sherman Avenue, perhaps believing the house was empty since most of the lights were out around 8 p.m. Oct. 9. Theisen said Jack Theisen then watched the men make their way to the home's side entrance. Theisen said he rushed home from his nearby restaurant after his son called and told him of the emergency. Theisen said while he has mixed emotions over his son confronting intruders, he said he is proud of him. "He's got guts."

TN: Loaded guns smuggled into prison : "Tennessee prison officials have charged a Chattanooga woman with smuggling two loaded handguns into a state prison at Wartburg. The guns were hidden in a box filled with board games and books. Twenty-seven-year-old Tiara Monique Ward is being held at the Morgan County Jail. Ward's bond was reduced from $100,000 to $25,000 at a Thursday hearing where a public defender was appointed to represent her. A Department of Correction news release issued Thursday says investigators discovered the two weapons in a package delivered to the Morgan County Correctional Complex on Sept. 17."

VA: Gun advocate detained : "Hours after guns-rights activists marched on City Hall to demand police leave them alone, they said one was charged after refusing an order to leave Waterside because he was openly carrying a weapon. Danladi Moore - whom the city paid $10,000 in July to avoid litigation after being stopped by police for suspected weapons violations - was charged with trespassing at the downtown entertainment complex Tuesday night. The 24-year-old Hampton resident said police told him to leave because he had a gun. Moore said he refused because the law allows him to display a weapon in public places. He said he was handcuffed, charged and led out of the building. Norfolk police ... confirmed that a summons was issued."

SAF settles New Orleans lawsuit : "The Second Amendment Foundation has reached an agreement with the City of New Orleans in a 2005 federal lawsuit that stopped the city from seizing firearms in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The landmark lawsuit, a joint effort by SAF and the National Rifle Association, was filed in September 2005 after police and National Guardsmen began confiscating firearms without warrant or probable cause from citizens who were not suspected of committing any crimes. Under terms of the settlement, which now awaits a judge's signature, the city must try to return all firearms that were seized. Gun owners will be notified by mail within 30 days of the court's approval that they can retrieve their guns." [Sounds like a pretty wimpy result to me. No redress for the wrong done at all]

Friday, October 10, 2008

Florida Man Shot Entering Home Mistaken as His Own: "A 24-year-old Orlando man was shot twice after accidentally entering a neighbor's home, thinking it was his own. The Orange County Sheriff's Office said James Conway was in stable condition Thursday. Deputies were called to a suspected burglary and found Conway moaning on the floor, saying he'd been shot in his own town house. Investigators said 61-year-old Berty DeGuzman admitted firing at Conway. He said he thought he was being robbed. Conway was alert, but allegedly told investigators he had been drinking. Deputies did not immediately recommend charges against either man. In Florida, it is legal to use deadly force if a person feels they are being threatened by an intruder or attacker."

Illinois man shoots, kills intruder: "An intruder was shot and killed while breaking into a home in the far southwest suburbs. It happened around 6 p.m. Wednesday night in Crest Hill on Pioneer Road. A 68-year-old man was in his apartment watching television when the intruder broke the bedroom window. Police say he picked up a .38 revolver and fatally shot the intruder, identified as 34-year-old Demtrious Grove. It is unclear whether any charges will be filed against the resident."

Texas homeowner fights off armed invader: "Mark says he was in his living room when a man armed with a nine millimeter gun walked through his front door with a demand. "The door comes open, I see a silver plated gun and a guy behind it with a blue bandanna on...so I was just in shock," Dickey told us Tuesday. "He says, 'Where do you keep your money?' And I said well, we don't keep any money in the house and he says well where's your wallet...at that point I thought if I turned here and gave him my wallet he's going to shoot me for sure. He'd already told me he would." Mark told the robber his wallet was in the bedroom. That's when he decided to act. "I bought myself a little time and walked into my bedroom and came back and I got close enough to him in my front room where I could grab him," said Mark. "I grabbed his gun hand and we started tussling and we came this way towards my kitchen...we came this way and he was hitting me and I was hitting him and I pushed him into my wife's mirror right there." Mark says thanks to his second degree black belt in karate, he was able to get a hold on the gun. During the struggle, Mark's 14 year old son was hiding in a closet. Mark yelled for his help, hoping it would scare off the intruder. "I called for my son to get my gun and I think that he knew that somebody else was in here so he left," said Mark. Deputies are looking for a black male believed to be in his late teens to early twenties."

Kentucky Woman Shoots, Kills Ex-Boyfriend, Claims Self-Defense: "A Hardin County woman shot and killed her ex-boyfriend Monday, but no charges have been filed because the shooter is claiming self-defense. Kentucky State Police say there's still the possibility an arrest will come. "She called and reported that this shooting had occurred and she was protecting herself, and we went down there," said Kentucky State Trooper Steve Pavey. Pavey said it happened at a home where Angie Ricketts, the alleged shooter, lives with her husband and children. Pavey said Ricketts called police right after she pulled the trigger, killing her ex-boyfriend, 37-year-old Eric West. "He showed up unwanted yesterday and that he allegedly assaulted her and that's what led to all this," Pavey said. West, of Magnolia, Ky., was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives said Ricketts claims this isn't the first time her ex has caused problems. "She is telling investigators that he is the father of a couple of her children and that he has made threats towards her and her family in the past," Pavey said."

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Ohio man kills would-be robber: "A Columbus man was killed this evening when, witnesses told police, he tried to rob a couple in a North Side parking lot. Thomas E. Goldsmith Jr., 27, was pronounced dead at the scene around 5 p.m. Franklin County records had addresses for him on Roche Drive and Linden Avenue on the North Side. Witnesses told police that Goldsmith approached a couple in their car at Kenmore Square Apartments holding a gun and demanded money from the man at the steering wheel, witnesses said. Goldsmith's gun misfired and the man in the car, identified as Deandre R. Henry, began shooting his own gun. Henry, 24, of 3490 Derrer Field Drive on the Hilltop, called 911 from his cell phone and told them he had shot someone. Witnesses said he told police, "I shot this dude because he tried to rob me. What was I supposed to do? My girlfriend's pregnant." He emptied his gun of bullets and stayed in the parking lot until police arrived, witnesses said. Columbus assault squad Sgt. Christ Holzhauser said several guns were recovered at the scene, and that Henry is cooperating with the investigation. Holzhauser said self-defense "is definitely a possibility. "If it ends up being a self-defense thing, it was very smart on his part to stay on the scene," Holzhauser said. Police were not issuing charges pending a county grand jury investigation.

South Carolina: Employees Disarm, Hold Would-Be Robber: "Officers were called to a drive-in restaurant Tuesday night where employees disarmed and restrained a robbery suspect. Employees at Boots and Sonny's Drive-in on East Henry Street said that an armed man had come into the business through an unsecured rear service door at about 9 p.m. They said that the man pointed a silver handgun at employees and demanded money from the safe. The employees scuffled with the man and disarmed him. They restrained him in the kitchen until officers arrived. Officers arrested 21-year-old Alvin Dean Edwards [above] of Spartanburg. He was taken into custody without further incident."

MA: Are you violating state gun laws? "Would it be considered a 'contract' if a firearms identification (FID) card, which allows the bearer to own firearms, was issued that stated the valid period was 'indefinite' or 'until revoked?' 2002 report released by the Commonwealth's House Post and Oversight Committee reported the state of Massachusetts failed to notify nearly 750,000 gun owners that their FID cards would prematurely expire due to the Massachusetts Gun Control Act of 1998. Did the 1998 law turn some of our law-abiding citizens into felons? These questions are now being asked by many people: some involved from indictments, some who are sitting at home in fear."

It's not Biden's gun Obama wants, it's everyone's: "Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden was trying to convince rural Virginians the other day that he's a devoted gun owner who will not allow presidential nominee Barack Obama to 'fool with my Beretta.' 'Senator Biden must think America's gun owners are dumber than rocks,' said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. 'Here is a man who has supported every restrictive gun control and gun ban law that ever landed on his desk, suddenly telling Virginia residents that he's a gun owner, and very pro-gun.'"

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

AL: Burglary suspect shot by victim: "A burglary suspect remains in the hospital after a Crabtree Road resident shot him Sunday afternoon. Shawn Lincoln, 22, of York is suspected of trying to burglarize the home around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Investigators charged Lincoln with first-degree burglary Tuesday. He will be booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail when he is released from DCH Regional Medical Center, said Capt. Loyd Baker, commander of the Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit. Baker said Lincoln approached three people in a yard and asked whether they had drugs. Baker said they told him no, and Lincoln then pulled a gun and forced them into the home. The 22-year-old resident had armed himself by the time they came inside and gunfire was exchanged. Lincoln allegedly ran to a nearby home where he asked to call 911 because he had been shot in the arm and chest. His injuries were not life-threatening. Lincoln's bail is set at $20,000."

Alabama pizza delivery man fends off robber with gunfire: "Victor Greenwood said he plans to take a week off work after a man attacked him with a brick as he tried to deliver a pizza. Greenwood, 32, said although the incident left him traumatized, he managed to escape with only minor injuries. He said he suffered a cut on the shoulder and was left a little sore. Moments after the assault he dropped the pizza and hot wings, and opened fire with his pistol. "As soon as I got back down the stairs, one of them hit me in the head with a brick," Greenwood said. "A few seconds later, he was charging me. I dropped the food and grabbed my pistol." Dothan police Capt. Larry Draughon said Khiry Terrel Beachum, 18, of East Lafayette Street, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg during the robbery, and was caught shortly afterward by police. Police are still looking for Michael Pope, who they say ran after gunfire erupted. Police said the robbery happened about 10 p.m. Sunday in the 400 block of East Crawford Street. Police said Beachum was treated and released from Southeast Alabama Medical Center for an injury to lower right leg. Both men were charged with first-degree armed robbery. Greenwood said he's worked for Hungry Howie's Pizza for five years and had never been robbed until Sunday night. But he said the two men didn't get a chance to steal anything. "It was either me or him," Greenwood said. "If they'd got me on the ground, it would've been over."

Wisconsin intruder runs from gun: "Madison man shot at an armed intruder to his residence Tuesday morning but missed in what police said was not a random home invasion. Madison police said the incident happened about 10:53 a.m. at a residence in the 1800 block of Browning Road on the city's northeast side. Two residents at home, a man and a woman in their 20s, said the suspect, a male in his 20s, was carrying a handgun and forced his way in through a door. "The male victim grabbed a rifle, prompting the perpetrator to flee," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. "The resident shot at him but missed."

NC clerk opens fire: "A store clerk and a robber shot at each other during an attempted robbery Thursday night, Winston-Salem police said yesterday. Police said that the store clerk, Soon Kwon, was outside the Liberty Street Grocery on Old Rural Hall Road about 8:40 p.m. when a man came up and pointed a gun at him. The two went inside, and, as Kwon was walking behind the counter to get money, he pushed the store's alarm and grabbed a gun. The robber shot at Kwon, missing him, and Kwon shot back, police said. It's not clear whether Kwon's shot hit the robber."

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Background

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” -- Thomas Jefferson

Syndicated columnist Charley Reese (1937-2013): "Gun control by definition affects only honest people. When a politician tells you he wants to forbid you from owning a firearm or force you to get a license, he is telling you he doesn’t trust you. That’s an insult. ... Gun control is not about guns or crime. It is about an elite that fears and despises the common people."

The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles -- Jeff Cooper (1920-2006)

Note for non-American readers: Crime reports from America which describe an offender just as a "teen" or "teenager" almost invariably mean a BLACK teenager.

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics.

Two lines below of a famous hymn that would be incomprehensible to Leftists today ("honor"? "right"? "freedom?" Freedom to agree with them is the only freedom they believe in)

First to fight for right and freedom,
And to keep our honor clean

It is of course the hymn of the USMC -- still today the relentless warriors that they always were.

The intellectual Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) said: "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."

How much do you know about Trayvon Martin? Did you recognize him in the picture above? If not you may need to know more about him. It's all here (Backups here and here)

“An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.” -- Robert A. Heinlein

After all the serious stuff here, maybe we need a funny picture of a cantankerous cat